Southeast Alabama Agriculture Overview

Cattle

Cattle graze on a farm near New Brockton.

   Cattle and calves represent another major agricultural income category in the district, accounting for $35.2 million in cash receipts in 1996. This compares to 1995 receipts of $67.8 million or a drop of 48 percent in cash receipts.

   Houston and Geneva counties are the leading counties districtwide in the production of cattle and calves and accounted for 38 percent of the total cash receipts. In 1996, of the 67 counties statewide, Geneva County held cattle inventories of 38,000 head, ranking seventh. Houston County ranked eigth with 37,000 head. Covington County ranked eleventh with 32,000 head.

   Prices received by Alabama producers during 1996 plummeted to $41.30 per hundredweight for cattle and $49.20 for calves.